The Chicago Bulls are not trying to pretend 2026-27 is about chasing a playoff seed. The real job is much narrower: figure out what they have, get Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson moving in the right direction in the frontcourt, and build an offensive structure that actually lets those pieces breathe. The new Draft Lottery rules make a bottom-three finish costly, so there has to be some push to win games along the way.
That is a big reason Chicago went out and added Norman Powell and Nic Claxton this offseason. Those moves may not turn the Bulls into a winner overnight, but they do give the roster a sturdier base on both ends. More importantly, they create a better setting for Wilson and the rest of the young group to develop in.
Zack Kram of ESPN doesn’t see it that way. In his tiered power rankings of all 30 NBA teams, he slotted the Bulls into the bottom five, alongside the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
There is at least some logic to that placement. Chicago’s floor could absolutely be there, especially if Wilson is not an immediate impact player at the NBA level. And if the Bulls end up moving trade pieces like Powell at the deadline, the season could drift toward the bottom of the standings pretty quickly.
Still, if the roster is judged as it currently stands, it is fair to wonder whether Chicago is being undersold.
Buzelis gave a real glimpse of what this frontcourt can become in his sophomore season. He averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 34.9% from three. If that perimeter shooting tightens up and Wilson proves he can handle contact downhill, the Bulls could have a frontcourt pairing that brings real juice.
That matters because Chicago also has Josh Giddey to help keep the offense organized. Giddey’s on-ball style can invite debate, but last season he still averaged 9.1 assists to 3.6 turnovers as the Bulls’ lead guard.
That kind of playmaking is not something every team in this part of the rankings can point to. The Kings and Bucks do not have that same offensive vision built into the roster. The Grizzlies have Cameron Boozer and Cedric Coward, and the Pelicans can lean on Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones, but Chicago’s mix of pieces is at least competitive with that group.
The Bulls did have to tear things down to get here. But Graham has done a strong job this offseason of rebuilding the short-term version of the roster, and Kram’s rankings do not really capture the upside of what Chicago has put together.
In Other News...
Bulls Came Up Short On Two Young Wings For One Reason
The Bulls spent part of the offseason looking for upside on the wing, but the gap between curiosity and commitment turned out to be significant. League reports now suggest Chicagos interest in Bennedict Mathurin was overstated, with the team not prepared to make the kind of multiyear guarantee he landed elsewhere, a reminder that the front office was weighing more than just talent when it sized up young options.
Jonathan Kuminga drew the more serious attention, yet even there Chicago was not ready to hand him the kind of role assurance many young players want before signing. The Bulls were hesitant to promise a regular starting spot or a clear path to finishing games, and that approach helped steer Kuminga toward Minnesota, leaving Chicago still searching for the right blend of upside and certainty on the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Giddey Has Become A Bulls Decision They Can't Dodge
Josh Giddey gave the Bulls plenty to like in the 2025-26 season, delivering steady offense with 17.0 points and 9.1 assists per game while knocking down 1.9 three-pointers a night. He also shot a respectable .448 from the field, .364 from deep and .763 at the line, numbers that helped make him one of the more productive pieces in Chicagos rotation and a player the offense could lean on more often.
The harder question is what the Bulls can live with on the other end, because Giddeys impact still comes with real defensive baggage in perimeter matchups. Chicago can appreciate the playmaking and scoring, but the longer this goes on, the more the team has to decide whether his offensive value is enough to cover the defensive concerns or whether his role needs to be managed in a different way. [Read more 🡒]